Football Season Guide

Despite being the only undefeated team all season W23 D11 Benfica finished only 3rd and full 6 points behind the champions. Not enough goals were scored and not enough wins achieved as a result. The consistency was impressive though, it gives a solid platform to build on. Coach Lage was sacked early. Mourinho took over. His defensive tactics frustrated the fans, used to much more expansive and risk-taking style of play. Mourinho left at the end of the season. Marco Silva spent the last 9 seasons managing in England [Watford, Everton and Fulham]. He is now back in Portugal for the 1st time since the 2014/15 campaign. He has been tasked to make Benfica exciting again. Both Lage and Mourinho lost their jobs mainly due to lack of goals and the choice to play it safe and accept draws too often. Silva is focused on improving vastly the attack. He likes counter-pressing so the Eagles should be much more aggressive at the top of the pitch. New CF Jhon Duran is capable of a 20+ goal season. Last summer’s signing Ivanovic also can be a revelation under Silva. He fits well the profile needed for tactics with high intensity and lots of dirty pressing work when out of possession. The top scorer from the previous 2 campaigns Pavlidis might be sold soon but with Duran and Ivanovic in place this shouldn’t impact the front line too much. The only notable departure so far this summer was that of the long-serving captain Otamendi. He turned 38 in February so his time as leader of the defence was coming to an end anyway. French CB Lenglet signed to take up the role. If anything he could prove to be an actual improvement for the defensive stability. Have all the depth needed for every position to challenge on multiple fronts. Winning the title and at least 1 of the domestic cups seems to be well within Benfica’s capabilities. Silva’s progressive tactics should excite the fans again after a mediocre scoring record last season. With them fully behind the team only the sky is the limit for the Eagles.